Combined alarm clock and article heater



Oct. 28, 1924. 1,513,685

A. ARDOVINO COMBINED ALARM CLOCK AND ARTlCLE HEATER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 2 shunts-Sheet l WITNESSES Y INVENTOR Anlstide .Ardovino A TTORNEYS Oct. 28 1924. 1,513,685

- A. ARDOVINO COMBINED ALARM CLOCK AND ARTICLE HEATER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES AJ'iSW6 Arolovina A TTOR/VEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

ARISTIDE AR-D'OVINO, OF NAPLES, ITALY.

COMBINED ALARM CLOCK AND ARTICLE HEATER.

Application filed January 4, 1923.

To .QZZ 10. 2 am it may concern:

Be it known that I, Amsrion. AnoovINo, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Traverse, Santa Maria Apparente, Naples Italy, have invented a new and Improved Combined Alarm Clock and r-lrticle Heater, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

An object of the invention is that of providing an alarm clock with improved means adapted to close an electrical circuit relative to one or more devices when the alarm is started.

Another object is that of providing means to be associated with an alarm clock adapted to close an electrical circuit when the alarm is started and to open the circuit af ter a period of time determined by one cycle of operation of an apparatus in the circuit.

A further object is that of providing a clock having means adapted to give an alarm at a set hour, close an electrical circuit to a lamp and to an article heater, and open said circuit when an article has been heated and again give a' second alarm after the article has been heated.

Further objects and the nature of the invention and its distinguishing features will appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being; understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Fi 1 is a front elevation of the clock and the. article heater together with a lamp to be lighted by the clock.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clock, the article heater and the lamp.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the clock, with the cover removed, and showing the mechanism for closing or opening an electrical circuit.

Fig. 4; is'a longitudinal section taken on line slet of Fig. 3, and showing the interior of the circuit closing mechanism and the interio of the article heater.

s 5, 6 and 7 are views of the circuit closer operated by an alarm mechanism of the clock, Figures 5 and 7 being in section.

Fig, 8 is a diagram of the electrical connections.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the base of the clock taken on line 99 of F ig. 2 and showing the joining of said connections with the supply circuit.

Serial No. 610,712.

In the drawings, the casing 1 of the clock mounts the article heater 2, which may be a coffee kettle, and a forwardly upwardly arching fixture 3 carrying a lamp Jr. A lever is pivoted intermediate its ends at 6 to a fixed bracket 7 below the cover-plate 8 of the clock casing. One end of the. lever 5 projects beyond the front of the clock and pivotally supports at 9 a. post 10 which formed at its upper end with a tray 11 to receive a coffee-cup, or the like. The other end of the lever 5 extends toward the rear of the clock and pivotally suspends a frame 12. The frame 12 at its lower end carries a weight 13. From one side of the frame, as shown best in Fig. 3, rises a standard 15 mounting at its top an insulated head 16.

This head is provided for engaging and rocking a lever 22, pivoted at 21, and carrying an insulated head 23. An L-bracket 1'7 anchors a leaf-spring 18, to the lower end of which spring is fixed a member 19 pre senting at its top a shaped shoulder constituting a latch 20 for head 23.

Loose on pivot 21 is an insulated T-rocker 28 carrying at opposite ends of its top-bar or T-head ofl'set pins to lie across the upper and lower edges of lever 22, whereby when but only when the lever-head is moved downward the T-rooker must move with the lever. Such head 23 carries an indicating disc. 25 adapted to overlie or expose a fixed indicator 26 of a contrasting color. At the bottom of its stem, T-rocker 28 carries a finger 29 to act as a latch relative to a catch 14 on frame 12.

The usual shaft 31 carrying the rotary device 31 for actuating the clapper 32 ot the bell of the alarm carries at the rear of the customary clock train a drum 33 of any suitable insulating material.

As shown best in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the drum is provided with a fan-shaped pocket cut away from the drum periphery and extending in beyond the shaft 31. The entire mouth of the pocket does not completely interrupt such periphery, it being noted that the pocket is really a slot cut. through about the middle third only of the width of the drum-face. However. running over a distance from one end of the pocket toward the other, the periphery of the drum is depressed, or curved inward eccentrically of the drum axis, and then abruptly stepped back to the main curvature of such peripher r, to permit the shoulder illustrated in Fig. 7 to be defined by an embedded L- shaped contact 34; Diametrically opposite contact 34 is a second contact 36; the two contacts being bridged by a conductor 37.

Loose on shaft 31 and loosely swingable in pocket 3o is gravity-responsive plate 38. This plate is thus loosely hung so that when the hook 122 of lever 22 is depressed as shown in Fig. 7, further turning 01 the drum 33 in thedirect-ion' of the arrow beyond the point illustrated will result in a trailing behind of plate 38 until the rear wall of the pocket is moved sullici'ently toward plate 38 to pick up thelatt'er. The outer curved face of plate 38 is eccentric to'both the difierentcurves making up the curved periphery of drum 33, as will be seen from a comparison of Figs. 5 and 7, to the end that when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig; 7 the plate'38 will'present a projectingshoulderat-"its forward end as indicated at 33 The fui'iction of the plate 33 will be clearly understood from the description of operation'toward the end ofthe specification.

A bar 39, pivoted at LO' a'nd ll; at the latter point to the post 10, is provided merel to insure parallel movements of tray 11" up and down. It may be explained at this point that, a cup having been placed on the tray as shown in" Fig. 2; and having been automatically filled to the predetermined extent with cotli'ee'65 dispensed from kettle 2 as prepared at the hour set pursuant to the provisions described below, the

cup and its contents then over-balance weight 13 on the frame 120i Fig; 3 and tray 11 descends with its burden to elevate frame 12 and of course when the cup of coffee is removed the tray is caused torise again by such weight;

The kettle 2 comprises" a casing Q liaVing spaced inner and outer walls to provide an annular chamber for a heating coil 43. The casing l2 takes a" water" receptacle l 'l, having'at its top'a cup-flangeas holding a ring l0internally tlir'eaded at 47. These threads coast with an externally threaded basal ring formin reduced bottom for a second receptacle 4:8 to-be mounted onthe water receptacle ll as shown. A; liftabl'e cover 50 overlies the top of receptacle 48. sleeve 51 risin from the bottom wall of the re ceptaele 4/1 is spaced around the upper portion ofa tube 52', which may be screwed in place as shown; Tube 52 is closed at its upper end and there threaded as at 53. To the tube 52, below the threads 53, a percolator casing 54; is welded, or otherwise secured, said casing having the usual 'lo raininous bottom 55, and adjacent the bottom of the casing 54: tube 52 is perforated as at The percolator' casing 54; is provided with a cover 56 flanged as at 57, andhaving a central threaded bore 58 engaging the threaded end of the tube 52. The re ,eptacle 48 is further provided with a spout 60, which inwardly of the receptacle 4L8 pre sents a tubular U-shaped section 61 with its free end extending downward to a. point slight-l5 above the bottom of the receptacle t8 as shown at 62.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tray- 11 may mount if desired, a plate 63 for receivin the cup 65 and its saucer 64:.

Examine now Figure 9, which shows the base of the cloclt casing 1, and also Fig. 8. Thecasing carries insulated fromthe casing and'from each other, plug terminals 7O, 71, 72 adapted to receive plug-s73, 74 and 75, which are connected by means-0t conductors 76, 77 and 78 with a. siipply plug 79. The terminal leads by n'ie'ans ol" conductor 80 to pivotal member 21 on'whi'ch lever- 22- is mounted, and so to the 110011122 of Fig. 8. From theter'ininal 71 extends a conductor 81 which is connected t'oa socket 82 on the cover 8 of the clock casin n Terminal 72 leads to a conductor 83; which beyond the clock casing 1 extends through one of the arms of fixture 3 as shown in Fig. Qto lamp l; A second socket is also on the cover o'f'the clock casing and a cond'uctor 85 leads therefrom toa binding post switch 91 when closed closes the circuit to' the lamp and the heater collectively or separately as either or both the plugs 7 and 7 5 of Fig. 9' are connected up independently of any operation of the dru1n 33.

The rear of clock casing 1' has a bottom hinged cover 101 shown swung down to condition in Fig. 3, and this cover has an opei'iin'g 260 for viewing the indicating disc 26, or the disc :25 it overlapping the first disc. This corer also has a slot 249 through which projects a stud Q ll carrying ah op Gl'Zi-tlllg knob 2a, as shown in Fig. 4. heroes the slot and on the inside of the cover is mounted a pivoted element 190 as shown in Figure 3 and manually movable by the knob to swing the member 19 to disengage lever 22 from latch 20. I

The operation of the device is as follows:

The clock is set to sound the alarm at a set hour by means of an adjuster of the familiar type. If it is desired that on the sounding 0t thealarmat SLl'CllllOlll', both the light t and the heater @3 are to loo A manual switch 91' is connected by i be actuated, the plugs 73, 74 and 7 5 are connected to the terminals 70, 71 and 72.

Assume that lever 22' has its head 23 engaged over latch 20. By means of the pivotal element last mentioned, the member 19 is manually moved to release lever to cause the hook 122 to advance toward drum 23 and positively to throw T-rocket 28 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be noted, however, that the hook 122 (contrary to the illustration of Fig. 3, which shows the parts as relatively located on the occurrence of a later event in the cycle) could not possibly yet hold the drum 33 as shown. This is the required condition now, otherwise the hook 122 would preclude subsequent rotation of the drum and a sounding of the clock alarm when the hour set by the adjuster 100 is reached. For a full understanding of the means for thus precluding a premature detent engagement of hook 122 with drum 33, Figs. 5, 6 and 7 should be momentarily examined; in connection with which it is pointed out that should the lever 22 ever be manually released as above, to swing the hook 22 upward while the drum happens to be so disposed that the hook could engage the shoulder at contact 3 1, the plate 38 would already have been dropped by gravity to the position illustrated in Fig. 7.

Thus at the hour set, the shaft 31 rotates to sound the alarm as usual, and the drum meanwhile rotates with the said shaft, for afull revolution or less, and in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, until the hook intercepts shoulder 38 of plate 38 and holds the drum against further rotation, thus to dispose plate and drum as shown in Figs. 3 and ll'ith the parts thus arranged, the circuits for heater and lamp 1 1 are closed by way of conductor 3'7 of Fig. 7 as shown in Fig. 8. Thus at the instant the alarm first sounds, at the set hour, the lamp -10 is lighted, and the heater 4-3 begins to heat the water in receptacle ll. Shortly after such water reaches the boiling point, particles thereof are thrown up the tube 52 and discharged from the upper end thereof to percolate through'the ground coffee in the cage 54-, and drops of coffee begin falling toward the bottom of receptacle 48. Coffee in the latter receptacle, upon reaching a predetermined level. discharges itself through tube 61 by well-known siphon action and into cup ontray l1.

hen the cup 65 is about full of coffee, the weight of the cup and the coffee contents thereof are such, in accordance with the design of the apparatus, that the weight 13 is overbalanced, and the lever 15 is rocked to elevate frame 12.

As the frame 12 rises, the head 16 is carried upward on the upper end of standard 15 and rocks lever 22 to depress hook 122 to free the latter from plate 38 of drum At the same time the insulated head 23 of the lever snaps over latch 20, thus overlapping the indicating disk 26 by the indicating disk 25 of a different color. Simultaneously, and due to the descent of hook 122 to the position shown in Fig. 7, the circuits for the lamp 4 and heater 43 are opened, and the drum is free for further rotation, which rotation continues. accompanied by a sounding of the clock alarm, until the alarm spring is totally unwound or until the alarm is manually shut off.

lVhen, now, the filled cup 65 is removed from tray 11, the weight 13 moves the frame downward and elevates the tray.

As to the parts 29 and 14, that is to say, to explain the purpose of mounting the T- rocker 28 for limited swinging movement in one direction only relative to lever 22, as hereinabove mentioned, it may first be again pointed out that pins 30 engage the upper and lower edges of lever 22 in such a way that when said lever is rocked upward to engage the same over latch 20, upon cup 65 being sufliciently filled wit-h coffee to overbalance weight 13 and so cause frame 12 to rise, T-rocker 28, due to its loose pivotal mounting and weight bias, swings with lever 22 to dispose linger 29 in vertical alignment with catch 14. This is for the purpose of interposing the finger in the path of upward movement of the catch should the frame be accidentally forced upward due to an unintended pressure on tray 11 at any time. Nevertheless, such trailing movement of the T-rocker relative to the lever 22, will not prevent weight 13 from dropping the frame 12 and head 16 to the positions shown in Fig. 3, as soon as the filled coffee cup 65 is re moved from the tray, because during such return movement of the frame the catch 1*; may nose past finger 29 due to the fact that T-rocker 28 may be forced to swing against its weight in a clockwise direction relative to lever 22 now engaged by latch 20.

Thus, briefly, if the apparatus is to be used for preparing and dispensing a cup of coffee at any desired hour set by the adjuster 100, it is only necessary, after setting such adjuster, manually to disengage the insulated head 23 of lever 22 from latch 20; and as a result at the appointed hour the alarm of the clock sounds, the lamp is illuminated, and the preparation of the coffee is started and continues until the cup 26 is filled with the coffee so prepared; whereupon the coffee percolator ceases operation, the light of the lamp goes out, the alarm is sounded a second time, and the indicating disk 25 becomes the one visible through the appointed opening in rear cover 101.

It is clear that with the indicating disks 25 and 26 of different colors, say one red plugs 74 or 7 5 of Fig. 9, corresponding to the terminals 71 or 72 of Fig. 8, is-disengaged.

Also, of course, the lamp or the heater, orboth, may be caused? to function at any time, irrespective of the operation of the alarm mechanismorof the drum 33 and cooperant parts, merely by closing the switch 91 and connecting up either or both. of the plugs-7 L and 75.

Further, the alarm'clock may be used in theusualway, by disconnecting all the plugs 76, 77 and78ofFig. 9;

The cover 101, slightly above the slot in which the knob24' is arranged, is provided with. an opening through which one ofthe sections 26 and 27 may be viewed. The-sec tion 26 is,.for convenience, painted red and the section 27 white. When the head 23 is in engagement with the latch 20, the'section 27 is viewed through the opening in question, indicating that the mechanism for closing the circuits is not set for operation. Onthe other hand, when the head 23is made to disengage the latch 20'the section 26 appears-in the rear of the opening, indicating that the mechanism is set to close the circuits when the alarm. goes off.

Itis understood that the invention is not limited to a lamp and a heater'circuit, since any number of circuits can be placed in parallel relation withthe two circuits described.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodimentof my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to "the mechanical details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can be considerably varied Withoutdeparting from the, spirit and scope of the invention as defined; in the appended, claims.

1 claim:

1. In co mbination,an alarm; clock and an article heater, an electrical circuit for said heater, a movable frame, a drum having a pair of spaced but bridged contacts on. its circumference and mounted to turn with the alarm mechanism of the clock, a. lever formed at one end with a hook adapted to engage one of said contacts to close said circuit and at the other with a latch element adapted to engage said frame thereby to cause disengagement o'f'the hook from the last-mentioned contact to open said circuit upon a movement of said frame, and means for automatically moving, said frame after heating said article.

2. In combination, an alarm clock, an article heater, an electrical circuit; for said heater, a movable frame, a rotor having a pair of spaced but bridged contacts and adapted to be turned by the alarm mechanism of the clock, one of said contacts form-- circuit at a set hour, an article heater and a lamp in said circuit, and means responsive totheweight of the heated article to open said circuit after the article has beenheated.

4c. In a combined alarm clock and article heater, means associated with the alarm mechanism of the clock adapted to close an electrical circuit, an article heater and alamp in said circuit, means in said article heaterto-cause the article after it has been heated to flow outwardly of the heater, a receptacle to receive said heated article, a lever carrying at one end the said receptacle and at the other means adapted'to open said circuit when the articl has been heated.

5. In an alarm clock, a drum mounted to operate with the shaft actuating the alarm mechanism thereof, a contact on said drum, a circuit closer adapted to engage said contact member, a pivoted member adjacent said drum presenting an outer edge projecting beyond the periphery of said drum and topermit an engagement of said circuit closer with said contact only when the drum is rotating.

6. In an alarm clock, a drum mounted on the shaft actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock, a pair of contacts positioned on the periphery of said drum, a circuit closer adapted to engage one of said contacts and thereby also to detain the drum, a gravity-responsive member adjacent the drum and having a curved outer edge project-ing beyond the periphery of'the drum, said. member being adapted toprevent said circuit closer from. engaging said contact when the drum is not rotating.

7. In an alarm clock, a drum mounted on the shaft actuating the clapper of the alarm mechanism of the clock, said drum being slotted in its own plane, and recessed at spaced points in its circumference, a contact embedded in; each. recess, one of said contacts having a shouldered portion. adapted to engage the end of a circuit closer, and a member pivoted, on said shaft and arranged in said slot in the drum, said member having a curved outer edge adapted to protrude beyond the periphery of the drum to prevent said circuit closer from engaging said shouldered contact when the alarm mechanism is not in operation.

8. In an alarm clock, a drum mounted on a shaft actuating the clapper of the alarm mechanism of the clock, said drum having a slot in its own median plane and extending substantially to the center of said drum, a member pivoted to said shaft arranged in said slot, said member being swingable from one end of the slot to the other and provided with a curved outer edge extending beyond the periphery of the drum, a contact in the periphery of the drum, a circuit closer adapted to engage said contact, said member preventing said circuit closer from contacting with said contact when the contact occupies a position in the path of movement of the circuit closer.

9. In an alarm clock, a drum mounted to rotate with a shaft actuating the alarm mechanism of the clock, an electrical circuit, spaced electrical contacts on the periphery of said drum, a lever having one end adapted to engage one of said contacts, a contact adapted to touch the other of said drumcontacts when the lever engages the first-mentioned contact whereby to close the circuit, and automatic means for moving said lever to cause it to disengage said first-mentioned contact after a predetermined period of time.

10. In an alarm clock, a pivoted lever insulatedly mounted on the frame of the clock, a spring-actuated latch normally engaging the lever, a knob to move said latch from engagement with said lever, an electrical circuit including said lever, and means actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock and engageable with the lever to close said circuit when said latch is disengaged from the lever.

11. In an alarm clock, an electrical circuit, lever interposed in said circuit, a movable frame, a latch normally engaging said lever, a projection at the other end of said lever, means actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock engageable by said projection to close the electrical circuit, means on the movable frame adapted to en age said lever to move the same and cause said projection to disengage the means first mentioned to open said circuit, and means in said circuit to automatically cause a movement of said frame after a predetermined period of time.

12. In a clock of the class described, an electrical circuit for a lamp and an electrical circuit for a heater, means actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock to close either or both of said circuits, means actuated by the healer to open said heater circuit, and a hand-switch for opening or closing the lamp circuit iudcpcndently oi' the alarm mechanism and the menus actuated by the heater.

13. In a clock of the class described, a lamp, a heater, a circuit for the lamp and a circuit for the heater, a plurality of plugs to connect said circuits to a supply of electricity, one of said plugs being connectible to one side of both circuits, the other sides of said circuits being each provided with an independent plug whereby to permit the circuits to be connected or disconnected individually or collectively, and means actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock to close said circuits.

14:. In an alarm clock of the class described, an electrical circuit, means actuated by the clock to close said circuit, a device actuated by a closing of said circuit, means actuated by said device to open the circuit after a predetermined operation of said de vice, and a hand switch in shunt with the clock-actuated means to open or close said circuit independently of the clock means.

15. In an alarm clock of the class de scribed, an article heater, including an electrical coil, an electrical circuit, means actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock adapted to close said circuit, a water receptacle heated by said coil, a percolator, a tube to communicate said percolator with said receptacle, a discharge spout to conduct water from the percolator into a cup, a lever supporting at one of its ends said cup, and means at the other end of said pivoted lever for opening said circuit to said coil when the cup has been substantially filled.

16. In an alarm clock of the class descfibed, an article heater including an electr cal coil, an electrical circuit therewith. means actuated by the alarm mechanism of the clock adapted to close said circuit, a water receptacle heated by said coil, a percolator, a tube to deliver the percolated contents of said percolator to said recep tacle, a second receptacle in which said. percolator is arranged, a U-shaped tube having one end adjacent but spaced from the bottom of said second receptacle and the other extending outwardly of said second receptacle and in the form of a spout, said U-shaped tube being adapted to conduct the water within the second receptacle outwardly thereof into a cup, a lever supporting at one of its ends said cup, and means at the other end of said pivoted lever for opening said circuit to said coil when the cup has been substantially filled.

17. In an alarm clock of the class described, an electrical circuit, a plurality of electrically-operated devices in said circuit,

"means actuated bythe-alarm clock for eloscharged article,. a frame connected to said ing said circuit, one of said devices c0mlever, and means associated.Withsaidframe prising a heater, an article heater served for opening saideleetrieal circuit when said 10 by said heater, means in said articleheater receptacle vhim been substantially filled.

to cause an automatic discharge of the J a heated article, a lever, a receptacle carried by .saidrlever for receiving the dis- ARISTIDE A'RDOVINO. 

